Alexithymic characteristics of HIV-positive patients

Despite extensive psychiatric research on HIV-positive patients, there are no published studies on alexithymia. Alexithymic characteristics and relate d factors were examined in a sample of 81 HIV-positive patients using the m odified Beth Israel Psychosomatic Questionnaire and the Social Support of S tress and Coping Inventory. The severity of alexithymia was significantly h igher in HIV patients than healthy controls, suggesting the presence of sec ondary alexithymia. Scores on two alexithymic characteristics, affect aware ness and operational thinking, significantly correlated with ratings of poo r utilization and perception of social support. As the severity of HIV infe ction progressed, affect awareness was higher, controlling for poor utiliza tion and perception of social support:. These results suggest that secondar y alexithymia, associated with poor utilization and perception of social su pport, may be manifest as a state reaction to approaching death.